A 32-nation naval partnership

HMCS Toronto intercepts narcotics at sea

Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Toronto, deployed under the French command of CTF 150, successfully disrupted 239 kilos of hashish and 10 kilos of heroin in the Red Sea as part of ongoing counter terrorism operations in the Indian Ocean area.

Between April 2013 and the end of June, HMCS Toronto has successfully completed six drug interdictions, recovering over 1.3 tonnes of heroin and around six tonnes of hashish, whilst conducting counter terrorism and counter narcotics operations as part of Combined Task Force 150 (CTF 150).

“HMCS Toronto’s workclearly demonstrates the international community’s intolerance for misuse of international waters,” said Lieutenant-General Stuart Beare, Commander of Canadian Joint Operations Command. “I am proud to see our ship and its crew continue to work with our partners and allies to deter and protect against terrorist activity at sea in the greater Middle East region”

The Halifax-class frigate is working with CMF to promote stability and security in the Indian Ocean. CTF 150 is currently being commanded by a French Navy Commodore and charged with countering terrorism related and other illicit activity in the region – including narcotics smuggling, which is a known source of funding for terrorist organisations.

The Indian Ocean region is known for being one of the busiest naval passages in the world. Each year, there are around 23,000 shipping movements and HMCS Toronto has been consistently successful in disrupting the movement of narcotics in the region.

Drug interceptions are one of many operations performed by HMCS Toronto. Narcotics smuggling in the Arabian Sea and the surrounding region is a recognized source of funding for terrorist organizations. The interception of illicit narcotics sends a powerful message to terrorist organizations that the world’s sea lines of communication will not be a freeway for sustaining the financial capital for terrorist activity and organizational growth.

CMF and CTF 150 have been actively building links and working in close cooperation with local, regional, and international law enforcement agencies in the Middle East, enabling them to identify potential offenders at sea.

Published by Combined Maritime Forces

CMF is a unique multi-national collective of 32 like-minded nations, dedicated to promoting security and free flow of commerce across 3.2 million square miles of international waters in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Somali Basin, the Indian Ocean and the Gulf. CMF’s main focus areas are disrupting terrorism, preventing piracy, reducing illegal activities, and promoting a safe maritime environment for all.
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